In August of this year, it will officially be 10 years since the announcement ofOne Direction’s hiatus. This news came just five months after Zayn Malik announced his departure from the group, with One Direction still set to embark on a world tour and the release of their fifth and final album,Made in the A.M.,later that year.Put simply, 2015 was a whirlwind year for Directioners. The language within the hiatus announcement placed emphasis on the boys' desire to focus on solo projects, stressing that this wasn’t the end of the group.
Unfortunately, this would prove false as the resulting solo projects, combined with Malik’s distancing from all mentions of One Direction, took precedence over any future group schedules. Malik was the first to release his debut solo albumin 2016, tapping into the smooth, R&B tones of his voice where he adapted the simple artist name “ZAYN.” The following four years saw debut solo albums from Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson, each leaning into different genres with varying levels of success. Fans missed the group, but were content to receive solo music instead.
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ROOM UNDER THE STAIRSby ZAYN
Solo albums meant solo tours, which Styles, Horan, and Tomlinson quickly arranged. While celebrating their first success as soloists,each of them paid specific tribute to One Direction by adding a song or two from the group’s catalog to their setlists. This subtle nod to their time together would continue as more solo music was released, and each member eventually held their own solo concerts.
Payne’s album was released in 2019, shortly before lockdown orders were issued. Malik suffers from anxiety, which has held him back from performing on his own until recently.
In October 2024, news of Payne’s sudden passing rocked the relatively dormant Directioner community. Many fans logged back into their inactive fan accounts, broke out their One Direction merchandise, and hosted streaming parties of the group’s discography. In the back of every fan’s mind since 2015 was the hope that a complete reunion would one day take place. Now, with so much uncertainty and pervasive sadness, there was nothing to focus on besidescoming together and appreciating the group that unlocked a specific love of music within millions of young people.
Zayn Malik’s Emotional “Night Changes” Performance Explained
His First Tour & First Live Tribute To 1D
After four fairly successful albums, Malik finally announced his first solo tour several months after the release ofROOM UNDER THE STAIRS.Set to begin in October 2024, the US tour stops were postponed following Payne’s death.Unlike the other members, Malik’s setlist didn’t include any One Direction songs, proving that the group was still a sensitive subject for him. On March 25, however, the exact day when, 10 years ago, his departure from One Direction was announced, Malik performed “Night Changes” live for the first time at his show in Mexico City.
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Of all the members, it’s been the most difficult for fans to decipher where Malik stood with the group. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that One Direction faced many challenges that fans will never know about due to poor leadership and mismanagement, something that continues to be common within boy bands. That being said, Malik’s explicit acknowledgment of his time with the group on the anniversary of his shocking exit, and just five months after Payne’s passing, isfurther proof that tragedy brings people together.
Which 1D Songs The Other Members Have Sung Live Solo
Harry Styles
Styles has paid homage to One Direction on both of his tours. Most recently, he’s allowed his incredible live band to rearrange the production of “What Makes You Beautiful,“making the group’s breakout hit into a staple in his solo setlists throughout the years. Additionally, he’s performed songs like “Stockholm Syndrome” and the devastatingly beautiful “If I Could Fly” to thunderous crowds singing the words along with him.
Niall Horan
Horan’s solo tours have included tributes to One Directionfilled with obvious admiration. He’s been known to singFour’s “Fool’s Gold,” “Night Changes,” and “Stockholm Syndrome,” with the latter being led by a crowd emphasizing Styles' echoing bridge line loud enough to make Horan laugh into his microphone. He’s also sung “Story of My Life” at festivals like Capital’s Summertime Ball in 2023.
Louis Tomlinson
The 1D songs that Tomlinson added to his setlists over the years tend to stay pretty stable. On his first tour, he sang “Drag Me Down,” “Little Black Dress,” and “Through the Dark.” On his Faith in the Future World Tour, he swapped those out for “Night Changes” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” both off ofFour. Tomlinson often chooses songs that play into hismore rock-leaning performance style.
Liam Payne
While Payne never had his own solo tour, he did a series of livestreamed shows on Veeps where he performed numerous One Direction songs along with his own original music. During these shows, he sang some of the more emotional 1D songs, especially in hindsight, including “Little Things,” “History,” “You & I,” and “Night Changes.” He also sang fan favorites like “What a Feeling” and “Fireproof,” among dozens more, showing a clear appreciation for the music he created with the group that fans will never forget.
It’s particularly special thatfour out of the five members have performed “Night Changes” at their solo shows now. OnceStyles releases his fourth studio albumand undoubtedly embarks on his third world tour, I might expect him to join thisOne Directiontrend.
One Direction
Formed on “The X Factor” in 2010, a British-Irish boy band quickly ascended to global fame with their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful.” Comprising Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson, they released five chart-topping albums before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
